The Gilroy Browns Pee Wee football team punched its ticket to Saturday’s Peninsula Pop Warner Division II championship game with an upset victory over the second-seeded Brentwood Falcons
The Browns, seeded fifth, constructed a 16-0 halftime lead and held on for a 16-8 triumph to move on to the title contest against the No. 1-seeded and undefeated Southern Marin Broncos.
Gilroy’s sturdy and hard-hitting defense, stopped Brentwood on its opening drive of the game, while the offense – led by William Herrera, Kenny Huynh, Daven Haro, Raymond Hernandez, Jonathan Aguero, Moses Cervantes, John Levis, Gaven Doyle, Erick Gonzalez, Javier Torres and Johnny Pena – moved ball down to the Falcons’ 12-yard line.
There, quarterback Gaven Doyle took the snap and ran to the left untouched for a touchdown. The extra point by Daven Haro was good to put Gilroy ahead 8-0.
The Browns defense – defined by Noah Laine, Slader Basso, Salvador Zendejas, Andrew Brisby, Jacob Vaca, Eddie Vargas, Jaime Martinez, Luke Young, Anthony Lealao, Christian Rodriguez, Tysin Johnson, Dylan Holler and Brandon Bumanlag – swarmed the ball carriers on every down and did not allow any first downs in the first two quarters.
Adding more strife for the Falcons was the Browns offensive line of Zendejas, Vargas, Hernandez, Martinez, Art Gomez and Connor Robinson. Under the leadership of quarterback Sean White, the offense again marched down the field, running the ball right at the Falcons defense.
Laine ran right up the middle for the Browns’ second touchdown. Add in the extra point and the Browns had their 16-point cushion
Gilroy’s defense remained stout and did not let up. Brentwood eventually got on the score board with 2 minutes, 30 seconds left in the game.
The Browns recovered the ensuing onside kick. and tried the onside kick but the Browns recovered. Knowing the Falcons had one timeout left, the Browns went back to their strong running attack.
The Browns went for it on fourth-down-and-six, with Laine powering up the middle behind Bumanlag and Rodriguez for the first down and to seal the win.
Saturday’s championship showdown is slated for a noon start at The Kings Academy in Sunnyvale.
• The Junior Pee Wee and Pee Wee Gilroy browns Cheer squads will compete at the Pop Warner Regional Championships Nov. 23.
If either team places first or second in their competitions, they will travel to Florida for the national championships.